WASHINGTON – Cameron Maybin’s eighth-inning homer off Matt Thornton on Tuesday allowed the Braves to avoid being shut out and ended a streak of 75 homerless innings pitched by the Nationals left-hander, which had been the second-longest active streak in the majors. Thornton had not allowed a homer in more than 12 months.
But it was also the only hit for Maybin in his past four games (1-for-13), though the center fielder had four walks and a couple of RBI groundouts in that stretch. He popped out foul to the catcher with bases loaded to end Tuesday’s 3-1 loss at Nationals Park, after nearly poking a checked-swing hit down the first-base line (it went foul).
The most recent home series notwithstanding, the Braves’ No. 2 hitter has sizzled at Turner Field, batting .337 (33-for-98) with 19 RBIs in 30 home games, with 17 walks, 11 strikeouts and a .436 OBP. Contrast that with Maybin’s 27 road games before Wednesday: .243 (28-for-115) with 17 RBIs, eight walks, 32 strikeouts and a .293 OBP.
Braves leadoff hitter Jace Peterson has a similar disparity in average and OBP at home and on the road. In 32 home games, the second baseman has a .327 average (34-for-104) with 17 walks, 20 strikeouts and a .419 OBP. In 34 road games, he’s hit .240 (31-for-129) with 13 walks, 27 strikeouts and a .308 OBP.
Peterson had three strikeouts in an 0-for-4 game in Tuesday’s series opener. He drew a ninth-inning walk that loaded the bases for Maybin.
Before Wednesday, the Braves had two games left against the Nationals, then three at Pittsburgh on their current six-game trip. As outstanding as Maybin and Peterson have been at Turner Field, the Braves may need them — and others — to pick up a little of the slack for at least the next 8-10 days in the absence of the team’s best hitter, Freddie Freeman, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday — retroactive to June 18 — with a right-wrist contusion.
